Whats the protocol around head injuries at school.

[eastendywendy]

DS (5) got hurt at school. He complained of a sore head and when I had a look he has a big lump and graze, he says someone hit him with something and he told the teachers who put some wet tissue on it.

His friends concur.

The teachers didnt let me know. Im pretty annoyed tbh, should I be?

[eastendywendy]

Thanks, is that normal protocol then? I also called the school at 330pm and they said the head/deputy would call me back and they havent.

Also, wouldnt they have a cool pack rather than a wet tissue??

[MoaningMinnieRisesAgain]

No, a wet paper towel is the standard remedy for everything at primary school.

We get a little 'head bump' note if they have banged themselves, sometimes it's in the bottom of the bookbag though.

[MoaningMinnieRisesAgain]

They should tell you, so that if they start to vomit etc you know it could be concussion for example. I would definitely speak to the HT or the class teacher about it.

[eastendywendy]

Fair enough re wet paper towel.

Will talk to teacher tomorrow. Ive looked in his bag etc and he has another letter in there re library but nothing else and tbf he always brings home letters fine. Also, I saw his teacher at hometime and she said nothing.

[xTonixxx]

It is possible the teacher was unaware. First aiders can be teachers, Teaching Assistants and Lunch time supervisors. Most first aiders would make a teacher aware but it possible that it may have slipped their mind.

All schools have their own procedures, the one at the school in which I worked was to write it in the accident book, give the child a "cold compress" which was actually a gel pack from the fridge, inform the teacher and fill out a slip with name and details of incident... then the school receptionist would make a phone call home.

[eastendywendy]

He said it happened at the end of lunchtime so he was then sat in class with the tissue on his head so the teacher must have known.

[xTonixxx]

I'm not defending the teacher, but it is possible they forgot. What worries me more is that there is no procedure to phone home for head injuries.

[xTonixxx]

Go in tomorrow, ask the teacher if he she/ knows what happened to your child's head. If they knew and forgot it should result in an apology. If not note your concern that no message about head injuries being passed on.

[FallenCaryatid]

Checked by adult first aider, icepack, incident report in accident book in office, bump sticker on child, letter in book bag.
If the child is back in class, teacher monitors them at regular intervals.
Contact with adult collecting at the end of the day.
We'd phone home if it looked serious.

[HandMadeTail]

I have always had a telephone call when it happens, or at the very least a letter at the end of the day.

At DS's current school, they stick a sticker on them, to say they have bumped their head, so that other teachers have that information, too. (it's a junior school - Y3 to Y6)

[solidgoldbrass]

This is a bit slack of them. DS bumped his head in reception and got a lovely goose-egg, and they phoned me even though it was five minutes before the end of school and I was actually on my way to fetch him. I had an accident slip, a word from the teacher, they'd given him a cool pack to hold on it and suggested I might take him to A&E (which I didn't as he was conscious and coherent with pupils that matched and no bleeding from ears or nose, etc etc - I just kept a careful eye on him for 24 hours).

[Nagoo]

we get a 'bumped head' note and the teacher has a quick word about it.

at least 3 times a week

[exoticfruits]

He should have a letter - they were red in our case and DS2 must have broken a record he was for ever arriving home with one!

[Ixia]

We get a pink bump note, saying what injury, how it happened and what action was taken by a named member of staff. The teachers always apply an ice pack. DD managed to get a lump the size of an egg on her forehead a few months ago, I got a phonecall for that one and took her home.

[DeWe]

One of the local schools gives them a sticker saying "I bumped my head today". Don't think it's very effective at communicating that to the parents as there's usually at least one stuck to the floor in the playground, which is how I know they do that.

Mine come home with a letter in the book bag. One time I was told by dc's friend she'd bumped her head, with quite a lot of bruising when I looked. Surprised school didn't mention it... then found when clearing her bag out at the end of the week she was using it as a marker in her book

[eastendywendy]

Thanks for all the replies.

I know people make mistakes but they didn't even call me back which has pissed me off a bit.

Should I ask if they know who did it? Ds didn't. I know they won't tell me and I know it couldve been an accident but I just wonder if I should ask.

[FallenCaryatid]

That might well be in the accident report, but they probably won't give you a name lest you wreak terrible vengeance on them. Usual school policy to stop vigilante parents.

[eastendywendy]

Thanks. Deary me re terrible vengeance. Sad world. It could be ds doing the throwing next week!

[dinkystinkyandveryverybored]

I appear to be called on a daily basis from DS1's school about him banging his head in the playground/class room etc - they take him to the nurses office, put it in the accident book, put an icepack on him and then call us to let us know. No other pupils names are released.

[MousyMouse]

we always nearly every day have to sign the accident form if anything happens.
the form gives a short discription like 'fell down and scratched leg' or 'bumped head together with peer on playground' and the treatment (cold compress wet towel)

[mumsneedwine]

Just to say about the head bump stickers. They should not be the way to tell parents (always a note - its regulations), but the sticker is so other members of staff can see the child has a head injury. If they then start looking unwell action can be taken v quickly. Only know cos my daughter is a regular head bump incident - she needs a crash helmet !